James Shannon

James Shannon (4 April 1952-) was a member of the US House of Representatives from Massachusetts' 5th district from 3 January 1979 to 3 January 1985, succeeding Paul Tsongas and preceding Chester G. Atkins.

Biography
James Shannon was born in Methuen, Massachusetts in 1952, and he graduated from Phillips Academy in 1969, from Johns Hopkins University in 1973, and from the George Washington University School of Law in 1975. He practiced law in Lawrence, Massachusetts, and he also worked as a Democratic Party congressional staffer. In 1978, he was elected to the US House of Representatives, and he was re-elected twice. In 1984, he ran to succeed Paul Tsongas in the US Senate, but he was defeated by John Kerry. He served as Attorney General of Massachusetts from 1987 to 1991, succeeding Francis X. Bellotti and preceding Scott Harshbarger, and he would become involved with political organizations after leaving office.